BMC Election Results 2026: BJP-Led Mahayuti Crosses Majority as Thackerays Trail, EVM Errors Delay Wards

The counting of votes for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on Friday indicated a strong performance by the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which crossed the crucial majority mark of 114 seats based on trends. The high-stakes civic polls, held after a four-year delay, are being closely watched for their political implications in Maharashtra’s capital.

As counting progressed, the Mahayuti—comprising the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena—maintained a clear lead over rivals, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. The much-discussed reunion of the Thackeray cousins did not translate into a decisive electoral advantage, with the UBT faction trailing in several key wards.

According to the latest trends, the BJP emerged as the single largest party, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Shinde-led Sena. Congress and MNS managed limited gains, largely concentrated in parts of Dharavi and select suburban wards.

However, the counting process faced hurdles as results for at least two wards—Dharavi Ward 185 and Ward 72—were put on hold due to reported errors in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and discrepancies during counting. The State Election Commission is expected to issue further directions on whether re-counting or re-polling will be required in these wards.

Reacting to the trends, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said the results reflected Mumbai voters’ trust in the ruling alliance’s development agenda, citing major infrastructure projects such as the Metro network, Coastal Road and the Trans Harbour Link.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also expressed confidence that the next Mumbai mayor would come from the Mahayuti alliance, given its lead across the majority of wards.

The BMC election recorded a voter turnout of approximately 52.9%, lower than previous cycles, with officials attributing the dip to voter list issues and urban apathy. Political parties, meanwhile, traded allegations over “erasable ink,” missing names and counting mismatches.

With most results still awaited, early trends point to a decisive mandate for the Mahayuti in India’s richest civic body, potentially reshaping Mumbai’s political and administrative leadership after years of uncertainty.